Closure feeding and transferring device



Dec. 10, 1968 A. BERGERON ET AL 3,415,037

CLOSURE FEEDING AND TRANSFERRING DEVICE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 12,1965 A TTORNE Y Dec. 10, 1968 A. L. BERGERON :T AL 3,415,037

CLOSURE FEEDING AND TRANSFERRING DEVICE Filed Nov. l2, 1965 6Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ALF/"FED L. BERGERO/V BY WALT Er? fa. STERLINGAT NEY Dec, 10, 1968 A. L BERGERON ET AL. 3,415,037

CLOSURE FEEDING AND TRANSFERRING DEVICE Filed Nz av. 12, 1965 6Sheets-Sheet 3- INVENTOR. ALFRED L. BERGERO/V BY WALT El? 5. STERLING fdtm f ATTORNEY Dec. 10, 1968 A. I... BERGERON ET AL 3,

CLOSURE FEEDING AND TRANSFERRING DEVICE Filed Nov 12, 1965 6 Sheets-Shet4 7 5 INVENTOR.

ALFRED L. SERGE/7'0 BY WALTERSSTEflL/NG fMdQ -W A T TOR/YE Y Dec. 10,1968 A. 1.. BERGERON ET AL 3,

I CLOSURE FEEDING AND TRANSFERRING DEVICE File d Nov. 12, 1965 sSheets-Sheet 5 22 N W 7 n4 I40 INVENTOR. ALFRED L. BERGERO/V BY WALTERS. STERLING x4 TmR YE Y Dec. 10,1968

Filed Nov. 12, 1965 A. L. BERGERON ET AL CLOSURE FEEDING ANDTRANSFERRING DEVICE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 F use 212 r r ---H -tt 2 0 I 1n I194 111$ 98 INVENTOR. ALFRED 1.. EnaERa/v BY WALTER s. STERLING" maweawmATTORNEY United States Patent 3,415,037 CLOSURE FEEDING AND TRANSFERRINGDEVICE Alfred L. Bergeron, Wollaston, and Walter S. Sterling,

Quincy, Mass., assignors to Pneumatic Scale Corporation, Quincy, Mass.,a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Nov. 12, 1955, Ser. No. 507,300 20Claims. (Cl. 53-308) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE ing machine.

This invention relates to a closure feeding and transferring device fora closure applying machine.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel and improved closurefeeding and transferring device for transferring successive closuresfrom a closure orienting machine to a closure applying machine in arapid and efiicient manner.

The invention has for another object to provide a novel and improvedclosure feeding and transferring device of the character specified whichis particularly adapted for handling small, elongated lightweightclosures in a highly efiicient and superior manner.

With these general objects in view and such others as may hereinafterappear, the invention consists in the closure feeding and transferringdevice and in the various structures, arrangements and combinations ofparts as hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims atthe end of this specification.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the present closure feeding and transferringdevice as embodied in a closure applying machine;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

FIG. 3 is a plan view detail of a portion of the driving mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a detail view in side elevation of the receiving end of apneumatic tube for conveying closures from an orienting device to thetransfer disk;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional detail view in side elevation of thedelivery end of the pneumatic tube associated with the transfer disk;

FIG. 6 is a plan view detail of a portion of the mechanism shown in FIG.5;

FIG. 7 is a detail view in cross section and in side elevation of theclosure receiving slot formed in the transfer disk including a radiallymovable carrier in the transfer disk;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view showing the radially movable carriermoved into chuck aligning position with the closure elevated into thechuck;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a modified form of transfer disk adapted fortransferring a different type of oriented closure to the closureapplying chuck; and

FIG. 10 is a detail view in side elevation of the delivery end of aguide chute for conveying closures from the orienting mechanism to thetransfer disk.

In general, the present invention contemplates a closure feeding andtransferring device for use in connection with a rotary closure applyingmachine wherein it is required to deliver successive closures intoposition to be received by successive closure applying chucks of acontinuously rotated closure applying machine. The closure applyingmachine may be of the type illustrated and described in the UnitedStates patents to A. C. Everett, No. 2,082,048 and No. 2,705,101. Insuch prior machines the closures are supplied in a chute leading fromclosure orienting apparatus, and successive closures are removed fromthe chute and presented into alignment with the chucks by individualtransfer arms carried by the rotary mechanism and movable along with thechucks. In operation, the chucks are lowered to grip the closurescarried by the transfer arms and then elevated to remove the closuresfrom the arms whereupon the transfer arms are rocked out of the way andthe chucks are lowered to apply the closures to their respectivecontainers.

In one embodiment of the invention, the present closure feeding andtransferring device is particularly adapted for handling small,elongated and lightweight closures, such as household oil can screw capswhich cannot be handled in the conventional manner because of theirsmall size and unstable shape. In the illustrated embodiment of theinvention provision is made for delivering such closures from theorienting apparatus to a rotary transfer disk arranged to supportsuccessive closures in spaced pockets formed in the disk. During thecontinuous rotation of the disk the closures are carried into alignmentwith successive closure applying chucks, and provision is made forelevating the closures out of the pockets into a position to be grippedby the aligned chuck for subsequent application to containers. Inoperation, the small elongated closures can thus be successfully handledin a rapid and expeditious manner. In a modified embodiment of theinvention, the present transfer disk is adapted to also handleconventional screw closures delivered from the orienting apparatus fortransfer into alignment with and elevation into successive closureapplying chucks.

In practice, the closure applying chucks are continuously rotated in acircular path, and in order to allow sufiicient time for elevating aclosure out of its pocket in the continuously rotating transfer disk topresent the closure into the gripping chuck, provision is made forguiding the pocket in the transfer disk along the radius of the circularpath of the chucks for a short distance and for rotating the transferdisk in a manner such as to maintain alignment of a closure pocket withits chuck during the movement of the transfer disk and chuck.

Referring now to the drawings, the invention is herein illustrated asembodied in a machine for applying screw closures to containers, only asufficient portion of the machine being herein shown so as to enable thepresent invention to be understood. The construction and mode ofoperation of the machine, except as hereinafter pointed out, maycomprise that disclosed in the United States patents to Everett abovereferred to and to which reference may be made.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, in general, 10 represents a rotaryclosure applying machine having a plurality of closure applying chucks12 movable in a circular path and also rotatable on their own axes. Inoperation, the containers 14 to which the closures are applied aresupplied to the machine on a conveyer 16 and are presented into closureapplying position in vertical alignment with their respective closureapplying chucks 12 by an intake spider 18. During the continuousmovement of the chucks in a circular path, provision is made fortransferring successive closures 20 by means of a transfer diskindicated generally at 22 into a position to be gripped by successiveclosure applying chucks 12. The chucks are then moved verticallydownwardly when aligned with their containers and are rotated to effectapplication of the screw closures to their containers. The containerswith their closures applied are then guided and transferred from theclosure applying machine back onto the conveyer 16 by a discharge spider24.

The closures 20 are supplied to the transfer disk 22 from closurehandling apparatus indicated generally at 26 which may comprise theclosure handling and orienting apparatus illustrated and described inthe United States patent to Sterling, No. 2,715,978, to which referencemay be made. In general, in the operation of such closure handlingapparatus, randomly arranged closures are withdrawn from a bulk supplyhopper 28 and deposited on an inclined rotary carrier 30 which isarranged to carry the closures into engagement with the beveled marginaledge 32 of a rotary orienting disk 34. The orienting disk is arranged ina substantially horizontal plane, and as the closures are advanced alongthe edge of the orienting disk, they leave the carrier 30 and aresupported between the beveled edge 32 and a cooperating closuresupporting rail 36. Those closures assuming a desired predeterminedposition between the disk 34 and the rail 36 are capable of maintainingtheir stability and are advanced into a position to be removed fordelivery to the closure applying machine. Those closures assuming otherthan the desired position are incapable of maintaining their stabilityand are permit-ted to fall back onto the rotary carrier 30 to be againadvanced into engagement with the orienting mechanism.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 8, thepresent device is shown as adapted to handle the small, elongatedlightweight screw closures 20. Each closure is provided with acylindrical base 37 at its open internally threaded end, and with atapered or conical portion 39 at its upper end, thus providing ashouldered portion 38 defined by the upper end of the base and the lowerend of the conical portion. During their passage through the orientingmechanism, the properly positioned closures are caused to be guided openend up with the shouldered portion 38 supported between the beveled edge32 of the disk 34 and the cooperating guide rail 36 and with the conicalportion 39 depending between the disk and the rail to form a line ofclosures arranged side by side and upside down.

As herein illustrated, in order to convey the relatively small elongatedoriented closures 20 from the orienting mechanism to the transfer disk22, successive closures in the line are arranged to pass under the openreceiving end 40 of a pneumatic tube 42 which is arranged to draw theclosure upwardly out of the line by suction and to advance the closurethrough a semicircular curved portion 44 of the tube to deliver theclosure to the discharge end 46 of the tube in an upright position withthe open end or base portion 37 facing downwardly and in engagement withthe upper surface of the transfer disk 22.

As illustrated in detail in FIG. 4, the pneumatic tube 42 is suppliedwith air under pressure through an angular upwardly inclined passageway48 formed in an adapter 50 connected about the tube a short distanceabove the open receiving end of the tube. The pasageway 48 communicateswith an opening at the side wall of the tube and is arranged to directthe air toward the discharge end of the tube. The adapter 50 isconnected by a line 52 to any usual regulated source of compressed air.At spaced points in the side wall of the pneumatic tube are providedatmospheric openings 54 to permit escape of the air, the open dischargeend 46 of the tube also permitting escape of the air.

With this construction it will be seen that when compressed air isdirected through the angular passageway 48 toward the discharge end ofthe tube 42, the pressure at the receiving end 40 is reduced by aVenturi action to cause a closure disposed beneath and in alignment withthe receiving end to be drawn upwardly into the tube. The closure thusdrawn into the tube is moved into the path of the compressed air streamfrom the angular passageway 48 to continue its movement around thecurved portion 44 and to the discharge end 46 to provide a line oforiented closures one above the other in slightly nested relation in thetube. "In passing around the curved portion, the position of the closureis reversed so that the closures at the discharge end of the tube arearranged right side up with the base 37 at the lower end. In operation,compressed air may be continuously supplied to the tube.

The pneumatic tube 42 is supportted by brackets 56 extending from a rail58 supported at a downwardly inclined angle from the machine frame. Thedischarge end 46 of the tube extends through and is supported in anadapter 60 adjustably secured to the machine frame. The upper end of theadapter is provided with a passageway 61 having a fitting 62 connectedto a source of compressed air by a flexible hose 64. The tube 42comprises a transparent plastic and may be formed in sections provided'with detachable connectors to facilitate clearing of the tube whenrequired. Photoelectric detecting mechanism indicated generally at 66may be provided for detecting the height of the closures in the tube andwhich is arranged to discontinue feeding of additional closures into thetube when the height of the closures reaches a predetermined maximumheight. As herein shown, the adapter 60 is arranged to support thedischarge end of the tube 42 at a slight angle from the vertical. Inoperation, when the endmost closure is discharged from the angularlyarranged end of the tube, it is guided to a substantially verticalposition. As a result, the endmost closure is rocked out of alignmentwith the next successive closure which tends to partially separateadjacent closures from their nested relationship.

As illustrated in detail in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the leading end or base 37of the endmost closure 20 at the discharge end 46 of the tube 42 issupported on the upper surface of the continuously rotated transfer disk22 in alignment with circumferentially spaced arcuate grooves orrecesses 70 formed in the disk. The discharge end 46 of the tubeterminates a short distance above the upper surface of the disk, andeach arcuate groove 70 is downwardly inclined from the leading end 72 ofthe groove to the deeper or trailing end of the groove which defines apocket 74. In operation, as the disk 22 rotates in a counterclockwisedirection, as viewed in FIG. 1, the endmost closure 20 is permitted todrop down out of the discharge end of the tube by virtue of the inclinedpath of the groove 70 to be withdrawn or stripped from the tube when itis fully lowered and deposited in the pocket 74.

In practice, the oriented closures in the tube may be arranged inslightly nested relation with the conical portion 39 of one closureextending partly into the open end of a succeeding closure, as shown,and in order to prevent release of such succeeding closure until afterthe first closure is withdrawn, the inclined groove 70 is of a crosssection at its trailing end such as to provide a barrier for thesucceeding closure. Thus, as herein shown, the leading end of theinclined groove 70 is of a width such as to freely accept the basediameter of the closure, and at a point intermediate the ends of thegroove where the entire base 37 is lowered to a point below the uppersurface of the disk 22, the top part of the groove is narrowed by theinward extension 76 of a relatively thin top plate 78 secured to thedisk, leaving the bottom part of the groove the same width as theleading end. Thus, in operation, the shouldered portion 38 of the basepasses under the extension 76 permitting the conical portion 39 of theclosure to pass through the narrowed portion of the groove, theextension 76 forming a barrier against which the base 37 of thesucceeding closure may slide during complete withdrawal of the endmostclosure into the pocket 74 at which time the top of the endmost closureis disposed below the upper surface of the transfer disk. The succeedingclosure then slidts over the pocket 74 to engage in a succeeding arcuategroove 70 to be withdrawn in the manner described.

From the description thus far, it will be seen that the closure 20released from the discharge end of the pneumatic tube is permitted to belowered in an upright position by the inclined surface of the arcuategroove 70. to the deep end of the groove which comprises, in effect, apocket 73 in which the closure is supported. As shown in FIG. 7, theclosure is positioned in the pocket over a suction opening 84 arrangedto engage the base 37 of the closure to hold it in an upright position.The suction opening 84 is formed in the upper end of a verticallymovable plunger 86 having a small reduced diameter portion defining abutton 88 over which the inside diameter of the open end of the closureis engaged and fitted to maintain the closure in an upright position byvirtue of the suction applied to the open end of the closure.

In operation, the closures are discharged from the tube by gravity underthe influence of the weight of the line of closures in the tube assistedby the effect of the compressed air directed into the tube through thepassageway 61. As herein shown, in order to positively guide the endmostclosure 20 down into its pocket 74 against the closed end wall thereofand over the button 88, two spring urged guide arms are provided each ofwhich serves to guide the closure in an upright position after it leavesthe tube and also serves to prevent displacement of the closurelaterally or forwardly out of the pocket during downward movement of theclosure whereupon the closure is engaged over the button 88 and held inan upright position by suction. As herein shown, one of the spring urgedarms, indicated at 80, is pivotally mounted at 68 in the adapter 60 andis provided with a relatively narrow guide face 82 at its lower endarranged to prevent forward displacement of the closure during loweringthereof into its pocket. In operation the guide face 82 rests on theupper surface of the top plate 78 in alignment with the arcuate groovesor recesses 70, and as the disk is rotated the arm 80 enters the grooveand is permitted to rock in a clockwise direction by virtue of theinclined surface of the groove 70 until the arm comes to rest against astop surface of the adapter to present the guide face 82 in front of theclosure and in vertical alignment with the discharge end of the tube toserve as a guide to prevent forward displacement of the closure. Theguide face 82 is disposed between the end of the tube and the top of theclosure in its fully seated position, and during continued rotation ofthe disk the face 82 engages the end of the groove 70 to rock the arm 80up to again engage the upper surface of the top plate 78.

The other spring urged guide arm indicated at 89 is provided with asemicircular engaging or guiding end 91 shaped to fit the circumferenceof the base 37 and is also arranged in vertical alignment with thedischarge end 46 of the tube. The guide arm 89 is arranged to extendinto the space between the top plate 78 and the bottom flange 105 of thetransfer disk and serves, in effect, as a continuation of the tube toprevent the closure from falling laterally out of the open side of thegroove during its downward movement into the pocket. Once the closure isengaged in the pocket over the button 88 the suction opening 84 servesto maintain the closure in an upright position, and during the continuedrotation of the disk the arm 89 is rocked out of the path of the closureby the movement of the closure therepast. As herein shown, the arm 89 iscarried by one arm 93 of a bell crank pivotally mounted at in a bracket109 secured to a stationary portion of the machine. The second arm 99 isconnected by a relatively weak spring 101 to the bracket 109 and is alsoprovided with a stop screw 103 to adjustably limit the movement of thearm 89.

In order to prevent displacement of the closure from its pocket afterthe closure is moved past the engaging end 91 of the guide arm, a leafspring guide 111 is supported to extend into the open space between thetop plate and the bottom flange and a stationary curved guide bar 107also extended into the open space is arranged to continue its support ofthe closure in its pocket during the further movement of the disk untilthe suction opening 84 is effective to support the closure. Asillustrated, when the closure is fully seated in its pocket, the top ofthe closure 20 is disposed flush with or slightly below the uppersurface of the top plate 78.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the plunger 86 is supported in a dependingcylindrical housing 90 of a radially reciprocable slide member 92movable in a grooved radial slot 94 formed in the transfer disk. Aplurality of equally spaced and radially arranged slide members 92 aresupported in the disk in association with the arcuate grooves 70 and, asherein shown, the arcuate grooves 70 formed in the transfer disk arecontinued into their respective slide members 92 so that the ends of thegrooves 70 delining the pockets 74 are disposed in the slide members.The number of pockets in the transfer disk, herein shown as eightpockets, is equal to the number of closure applying chucks 12 and, inoperation, provision is made for elevating the plungers 86 to presenttheir closures into their respective chucks 12 and for moving the slidemembers 92 inwardly to follow the circular path of movement of thechucks for a short distance and for rotating the transfer disk atvariable speeds to conform to the speed of the chucks during the inwardmovement of the slide members so as to maintain the pockets in alignmentwith their respective chucks for a sufficient length of time to permitelevation of the closures and gripping of the same by their chucks.

As shown in FIG. 2, the transfer disk 22 is supported between upper andlower vertical shafts 96, 98. The upper shaft 96 which comprises thedrive shaft is provided with a flange 97 at its lower end bearingagainst the upper surface of the disk. The lower shaft 98 is supportedin a thrust bearing formed in the frame of the device and is alsoprovided with a flange 100 bearing against the underside of the disk.The disk is connected to the shafts by bolts 102 passing through theflanges and the disk.

Each reciprocable slide member 92 is normally maintained in itsoutwardly extended position with the different portions of the arcuategrooves 70 in alignment by a spring 104 coiled about a stud 106 securedto and radially extended from the hub of the transfer disk. One end ofthe spring 104 bears against a shoulder 108 of the stud and the otherend of the spring bears against a depending portion 110 of the slidemember 92. The stud 106 passes through the depending portion 110 and thethreaded outer end of the stud is provided with check nuts 112 foradjusting and limiting the outward movement of the slide member.

In order to provide suction to the opening 84 in the vertically movableplungers 86, each plunger is provided with a vertical passageway 114connected by an adapter 116 to an individual flexible hose 118 leadingto a manifold formed above the flange 97 of the upper shaft 96. Eachflexible hose 118 passes through an opening 119 in the disk, as shown,and the manifold 120 is provided with passageways 121 in communicationwith a central passageway 122 in the shaft. The upper end of thepassageway communicates with a rotary joint 124 which is cormected to asource of suction by a pipe 126.

The adapter 116 connected to each plunger 86 extends radially through avertical slot 128 in the side wall of the depending cylindrical housingto provide clearance therefor during elevation of the plunger.

In order to elevate the plunger 86 to present its closure into a chuck12, each plunger is further provided with a roller 13% mounted on a stud132 secured to and radially extended from the opposite side of theplunger, a second vertical slot 134 being provided in the cylindricalhousing 90 to provide clearance for the stud. The roller is arranged toride in a cam path in a stationary earn 136 supported from the machineframe and which follows a path parallel to or concentric with the pathof movement of the slide member 92 where it is moved inwardly through anare indicated at 138 defining a portion of the circular path of theclosure applying chucks 12 which overlaps the transfer disk.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the depending housing 90 of each slide member92 is provided with a roller 140 which cooperates with a stationary cam142 supported from the machine frame and which operates to urgesuccessive slide members 92 inwardly against the tension of the spring104 to cause the pockets 74 to follow along the are 138 defining thepath of the chucks 12.

The chucks 12 are rotated at a constant speed, and in order to cause thepockets 74 to maintain the same speed and to remain in verticalalignment with their respective chucks as they pass through the are 138,provision is made for driving the transfer disk from the closureapplying rnachine through a modified Geneva mechanism indicatedgenerally at 144. The radius of the center line of the pockets 74 intheir extended positions in the transfer disk is equal to the radius ofthe overlapping circular path of the closure applying chucks. The drivenmember 146 of the Geneva is provided with eight slots 148, and

the rotary closure applying machine is provided with eight driving rolls150. The driving rolls 150 are supported in brackets 151 extending froma rotating portion of the closure applying machine, and the rolls 150are arranged in vertical alignment with their respective closureapplying chucks 12. In operation, when a pocket 74 of the transfer diskis moved inwardly from its normal circular path to follow theoverlapping are 138 of the chucks 12, the transfer disk is momentarilyincreased and decreased in angular velocity to maintain the pockets invertical alignment with their respective chucks during elevation of theclosures thereto. As herein shown, when the reciprocable slide member 92is moved to present a pocket 74 to a first point of intersection 153 ofthe are 138 with the normal circular path of the pockets, the

cam 142. effects inward movement of the slide member and, simultaneouslytherewith, the plunger 86 is elevated by the cam 136 to present itsclosure to its chuck 12, and the speed of the transfer disk is graduallyincreased during its travel through the first half of the are 138.Thereafter, during movement of the transfer disk through the second halfof the are 138, the slide member 92 is moved outwardly; the plunger 86is lowered; and the speed of the transfer disk is gradually reduceduntil the pocket 74 is moved to the second point of intersection 155 ofthe are 138 with the normal circular path of the pockets. Thus, inoperation, the transfer disk is continuously rotated at an increasingand decreasing rate to maintain alignment of successive pockets 74 withtheir respective chucks 12. In practice, the plunger 86 is arranged tobe elevated to dispose the bottom of the closure in a plane above theupper surface of the top plate 78 at which time the closure is grippedby the chuck and the plunger is lowered.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the drive mechanism 144 from the closureapplying machine 10 to the transfer disk shaft 96 includes a slip clutchindicated generally at 152 which is arranged to permit the shaft and thetransfer disk to come to rest in the event of an overload or a jam. Thedriven member 146 of the modified Geneva is connected to a sleeve 154supported for rotation in a support hearing 157 extending from astationary portion of the closure applying machine. The sleeve 154 isconnected to the driving element 156 of the slip clutch. The drivenelement 162 is connected to an elonagted sleeve 164, and an annular disk166 engaging the driven element 162 is urged against the driving element156 by a spring 168 coiled about the sleeve 164 and interposed between aball thrust bearing 170 engaging the disk 166 and a spring flange 172adjustably secured to the sleeve 164. The lower end of the sleeve 164 isprovided with a flange 174 which carries a slotted cylindrical member176 providing a keyway arranged to fit over an elongated key projection178 out in the shaft 96. Under normal operating conditions thefrictional engagement of the spring pressed elements is sufficient torotate the shaft and the transfer disk, and in the event that a jamoccurs such as to stop rotation of the transfer disk, the clutch willslip thereby protecting the parts from damage.

In practice, when it is desired to remove the transfer disk used for onesize of closure and to replace the disk with one used for another sizeof closure, the upper shaft 96 may be unbolted at its flanged end 97from the transfer disk and axially elevated through the elongated sleeve164 to facilitate interchange of the disks.

From the description thus far it will be seen that the relativelylightweight elongated closures 20 can be successfully handled by atransfer disk 22 arranged to receive successive closures deliveredthereto from the orienting mechanism 34 into successive pockets 74 atone station of the continuously moving disk and to elevate the closuresfrom the pockets into the grip of successive closure applying chucks ofa closure applying machine at another station, novel provision beingmade for driving the disk relative to the chucks and for moving thepockets in the disk so as to maintain alignment of the pockets and thechucks for a sufficient length of time to permit the closures to beelevated and gripped by the chucks. It will be understood that theplungers 86 remain in their elevated position for a sufiicient length oftime to permit the chucks to effect gripping of the closures before theplunger is again lowered. In practice, the vacuum may be continuouslyapplied to the suction opening 84 and may be of a value such that theclosure may be easily separated from the suction when the plunger islowered away from the closure gripped by the chuck.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, in a modified form of the invention,provision is made for handling conventional closures 180 by means of amodified transfer disk 182. In the modified form of the invention, theconventional closures 180 are supplied to the transfer disk by gravitythrough an inclined chute 184 arranged to convey the closures from theorienting mechanism in a line, the lower end of the chute 184 beingcurved to present the endmost closure in an upright position against theperiphery of the transfer disk in a substantially horizontal plane. Thechute 184 is supported on a downwardly inclined rail 181 attached to themachine frame. The periphery of the transfer disk 182 is provided with aplurality of circumferentially spaced inwardly curved cutouts orrecesses 186 terminating in a hooklike pocket 188 which serves to stripthe closure from the end of the chute and to carry it into operativeposition to be presented into the grip of the closure applying chuck 12.In practice, the succeeding closure is retained in the chute byengagement with the periphery of the disk beyond the instant pocketuntil a succeeding curved recess 186 is presented to the end of thechute to remove the succeeding endmost closure in a similar manner.

Each curved recess 186 cut in the periphery of the disk 182 has ahorizontal bottom wall 190 arranged at a slightly lower plane than thebottom wall 192 of the chute so as to provide sutficient clearance topermit entrance of the closure into the recess, and when it arrives inthe pocket 188, the closure is positioned over a vertically movableplunger 194 having a button 196 at its upper end. The plunger isdisposed at a lower plane than the bottom wall 192 so that when theclosure is deposited in its pocket, it will drop down over the button asshown. The plunger 194 is supported in a depending housing 198 formedintegrally with radially reciprocable slide members 200, a plurality ofwhich are provided similar to those previously described, and theplunger is also provided with a central suction opening 202 connected toa source of suction in the manner previously described. Thus, inoperation, the closure stripped from the end of the chute by thehooklike pocket 188 is retained in the pocket by the suction.

In the event that the endmost closure does not flow readily into itscurved recess 186 during the continuous rotation of the transfer disk,the discharge end of the chute is provided with a yieldable side guide204 which is arranged to rock outwardly when engaged by a partiallydischarged closure to release the same and thus prevent a jam. As hereinshown, the side guide 204 is connected to an arm 206 pivotally mountedon a stud 208 depending from the underside of the supporting rail 181.The guide is held in its normal position by a spring 210 connected tothe supporting rail, and a stop screw 212 carried by the guide 204 isarranged to engage the supporting rail to adjustably limit the inwardmovement of the guide. A top guide 213 supported by the chute isprovided to prevent upward displacement of the closures, and a curvedtop plate 215 secured to and extended from the guide 213 follows thecontour of the disk above the recesses 186 for a short distance toprevent upward displacement of the closures in the recesses during thestripping operation and until the suction is effective to hold theclosure in its pocket.

In some instances, such as when rotation of the transfer disk is stoppedand comes to rest in a position where the discharge end of the chute 184is aligned with a portion of the curved recess 186 it is possible thatthe endmost closure may flow out of the chute and be forced along therecess to be prematurely seated in the pocket 188, thus permitting asucceeding closure to partially extend into the recess. While suchsecond closure will be released by virtue of the yieldable guide 204upon subsequent rotation of the transfer disk, auxiliary means isprovided to prevent such occurrence. This is accomplished by theprovision of a stop arm 214, the end surface 215 of which comprises anextension of a guide rail 220 against which the endmost closure may restand which forms a bar to prevent movement of the closure along therecess until the rotation of the disk is again initiated. As a result,the second closure held in the chute by engagement with the firstclosure is prevented from entering any part of the instant recess butwill be free to enter a succeeding recess upon rotation of the disk. Asherein shown, the stop arm 214 is pivotally mounted at 216 in anextension 218 from the guide rail 220 and is urged into the path of theendmost closure in the recess by a spring 222 as limited by a stopsurface 224 on the extension 218.

The conventional closures 180 carried by the pockets 188 are thereaftermoved into vertical alignment with their respective closure applyingchucks and elevated into the chucks in a manner similar to thecorresponding mechanism described in connection with the small closureswherein the slide members 200 are moved inwardly through the arc 138corresponding to the circular path of movement of the chucks, andwherein the transfer disk 182 is rotated at variable speeds duringmovement of the pockets through the arc to cause the pockets to travelat the same speed and in vertical alignment with the chucks during theirtravel through the are 138 to the end that ample time is afforded toelevate a closure into position to be gripped by its chuck. A similarstationary cam is provided for cooperation with a cam roll 228 carriedby the plunger 194 to elevate the same, and a similar stationary cam forcooperation with a roller 232 carried by the housing 198 is provided forguiding the slide member to present its pocket 1881 along the arc 138.As previously described, the plunger is elevated when it enters the are138 and is again lowered before it leaves the arc. In practice, theplunger remains in its elevated position for an adequate length of timeto permit the chuck to effect gripping of the closure before the plungeris again lowered.

From the above description it will be seen that the present rotarytransfer disk may be adapted to handle conventional closures deliveredfrom the orienting mechanism, as well as the small elongated closures,in a rapid and eflicient manner to transfer the closures into operativeposition to be received and gripped by successive closure applyingchucks for application to their respective containers.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been hereinillustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention maybe embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a closure applying machine, in combination, a plurality of closureapplying chucks movable continuously in a circular path, a continuouslyrotated trans fer disk having a plurality of closure supporting pockets,means for depositing closures into successive pockets, and means forelevating the closures out of their pockets into the grip of successivechucks, said transfer disk being provided with grooved. recessesadjacent the periphery of the disk terminating in said pockets, saiddepositing means including means for supporting successive closures in aline, successive endmost closures entering said recesses being guidedinto said pockets and withdrawn from the line.

2. A closure applying machine as defined in claim 1 wherein thedepositing means further includes means for preventing more than oneclosure from entering each recess.

3. In a closure applying machine, in combination, a plurality of closureapplying chucks movable continuously in a circular path, a continuouslyrotated transfer disk having a plurality of closure supporting pockets,means for depositing closures into successive pockets, means forelevating the closures out of their pockets into the grip of successivechucks, said elevating means including a vertically movable plungerforming the bottom of said pocket and having a suction opening forretaining the closure in the pocket, and means for moving the plunger topresent the closure into operative position to be gripped by a chuck.

4. In a closure applying machine adapted to handle relatively smallelongated closures, each closure having a cylindrical base portion and aconical upper portion, in combination, a plurality of closure applyingchucks movable in a circular path, a rotary transfer disk having aplurality of circumferentially spaced arcuate grooved recesses, eachrecess having a bottom wall inclined downwardly from the leading end ofthe recess and terminating in a closure supporting pocket, and means fordepositing successive closures into successive pockets for transfer tosaid chucks comprising a tubular guide having a substantially verticaldischarge end supporting a line of closures arranged end to end anddisposed above and in alignment with said recesses, the endmost closurein the guide resting on the upper surface of the disk, said inclinedbottom wall permitting lowering of successive closures out of thetubular guide into said pockets.

5. A closure applying machine as defined in claim 4 wherein the upperportion of each grooved recess is narrowed at its trailing end tosupport the base portion of a second closure whereby to prevent entranceof the second closure into the recess.

6. A closure applying machine as defined in claim 4 wherein thedepositing means further includes means for guiding and maintaining aclosure in its pocket after the closure leaves the tubular guidecomprising a pivotally mounted spring urged arm having a guide face inverti cal alignment with said tubular guide and arranged to preventforward displacement of the closure during lowering thereof into thepocket, and a second spring urged arm having an engaging face also invertical alignment with said tubular guide for preventing lateraldisplacement of the, closure during lowering thereof into its pocket,said guides being rocked out of the path of the closure upon continuedrotation of the disk.

7. A closure applying machine as defined in claim 6 wherein each pocketis provided with suction means engaging the lower end of the closure tomaintain it in a vertical position, and guide means including a leafspring arranged to prevent lateral displacement of the closure duringinitial movement of the pocket beyond said tubular guide, and a curvedguide bar extending along the periphery of the disk to maintain theclosure in its pocket until the suction means is effective to engage theclosure.

8. A closure applying machine as defined in claim 4 wherein the tubularguide is arranged at a slight angle from the vertical to permit rockingof the endmost closure relative to the next succeeding closure as theendmost closure moves to a vertical position in its pocket whereby tobreak any nesting engagement with said succeeding closure.

9. A closure applying machine as defined in claim 4 wherein the closuresare moved through said tubular guide by gravity, and a compressed airconnection to said tubular guide providing a stream of air to assist themovement of the closures through the guide.

10. A closure applying machine as defined in claim 4 wherein thereceiving end of said tubular guide is arranged vertically above asupply of oriented closures arranged in a moving line, a compressed airconnection above said receiving end directing a stream of air toward thedischarge end of said guide effecting a reduction in pressure at saidreceiving end to draw successive closures into the tube and toward saiddischarge end.

11. In a machine of the character described, in combination, closuretransfer means, means for supporting a supply of closures in a movingline, a tube having a receiving end and a discharge end, said receivingend arranged above the closures in said moving line, a compressed airconnection above said receiving end directing a stream of air toward thedischarge end of the tube effecting a reduction in pressure at saidreceiving end to draw successive closures into the tube and toward saiddischarge end, said tube being curved so that closures drawn upwardlyinto the receiving end of the tube in an upside down position aredelivered to the transfer means in a right side up position.

12. In a closure applying machine, in combination, a plurality ofclosure applying chucks movable in a circular path, a rotary transferdisk having a plurality of inwardly curved recesses in the periphery ofthe disk terminating in a hook shaped pocket, a guide chute supporting aline of closures terminating adjacent the periphery of the disk wherebysuccessive endmost closures entering successive recesses are removedfrom said chute and seated in said pockets.

13. A closure applying machine as defined in claim 12 wherein apivotally mounted resilient extension of said chute provides a bar toprevent premature seating of a closure in its pocket whereby to preventadvance of a second closure into the recess, and wherein the guide chuteis provided at its discharge end with a pivotally mounted andresiliently held rail portion to permit escape of a non-seated closure.

14. In a closure applying machine, in combination, a plurality ofclosure applying chucks movable continuously in a circular path, acontinuously rotated transfer disk having a plurality of groovedrecesses adjacent the periphery of the disk terminating in closuresupporting pockets, means for guiding and depositing successive closuresfrom a supply thereof into successive pockets, means for elevatingsuccessive closures out of their pockets into the grip of successivechucks, and means for moving said pockets to follow a portion of saidcircular path and in vertical alignment with said chucks for asufficient distance such as to afford ample time for the closure to beelevated to and gripped by said chucks.

15. In a closure applying machine, in combination, a plurality ofclosure applying chucks movable in a first circular path, a rotarytransfer disk having a plurality of closure supporting pockets movablein a second circular path overlapping and intersecting said firstcircular path, the portions of the paths between intersecting pointsdefining overlapping arcs, said pockets being mounted to move radiallyin said transfer disk, means for moving said pockets to follow theoverlapping arc of said first circular path, means for driving said diskin a manner such as to maintain the pockets in vertical alignment withtheir respective chucks during their travel through the overlapping arcof said first circular path, and means for elevating the closures out oftheir pockets into the grip of their respective chucks during theirtravel through said are whereby to afford ample time to effect elevationof successive closures into their respective chucks and gripping of theclosures by the chucks.

16. A closure applying machine as defined in claim 15 wherein thedriving means includes a modified Geneva drive connecting the closureapplying machine and the transfer disk and arranged to increase theangular velocity of the disk during movement of the pocket through thefirst half of said are and to decrease the angular velocity duringmovement of the pocket through the second half of said arc.

17. A closure applying machine as defined in claim 16 wherein theelevating means includes a cam operated plunger, and wherein theradially movable pockets are resiliently urged outwardly to follow thesecond circular path, and a stationary cam cooperating with successivepockets to cause them to move inwardly to follow the overlapping arc ofsaid first circular path.

18. In a closure applying machine, in combination, a plurality ofclosure applying chucks movable in a first circular path, a rotarytransfer disk having a plurality of closure supporting pockets movablein a second circular path overlapping and intersecting :said firstcircular path, the portions of the paths between intersecting pointsdefining overlapping arcs, means for depositing successive closures froma supply thereof into successive pockets, said disk being provided withgrooved recesses adjacent the periphery of the disk and terminating insaid pockets, successive endmost closures entering said recesses beingguided into said pockets, said pockets being mounted to move radially insaid transfer disk, means for moving said pockets to follow theoverlapping arc of said first circular path, means for driving said diskin a manner such as to maintain the pockets in vertical alignment withtheir respective chucks during their travel through the arc of saidfirst circular path, and means for elevating the closures out of theirpockets into the grip of their respective chucks during their travelthrough said are whereby to afford ample time to effect elevation ofsuccessive closures into their respective chucks and gripping of theclosures by the chucks.

19. A closure applying machine as defined in claim 18 wherein theclosure depositing means includes a tubular guide supporting a supply ofclosures end to end and arranged in a substantially vertical positionabove and in alignment with said grooved recesses, and wherein eachgrooved recess is provided with a bottom wall inclined downwardly fromits leading end to permit lowering of successive closures out of thetubular guide into successive pockets.

20. A closure applying machine as defined in claim 18 wherein theclosure depositing means includes an inclined 13 guide chute supportinga line of closures, said chute terminating adjacent the periphery of thedisk, and wherein successive endrnost closures entering successiverecesses are removed from the chute and seated in said pockets.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,066,259 12/1936 Everett 53-31714 6/1962 Stover et a1 53-88 TRAVIS S MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner. E. F.DESMOND, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

